Following the team with a unique perspective on all things Phillies.Email me: PhilliesPhollowers@comcast.net – Peace, Love & Baseball – Jenn

Phillies Return To The World Series

Phillies win!!!And for the second consecutive year, they will return to the World Series!

The chance to pull off the most amazing feat in baseball is upon us:The repeat!Can the Phillies become the new Big Red Machine?We will see.

The 10-4 win over the Dodgers tonight had a multitude of highlights.Here are just a few:

- Jayson Werth smashed not one, but two home runs!Those homers accounted for 4 RBI.Oh, and he hit a single too, just for good measure.

- Shane Victorino, who has been sick with a nasty cold all week, had 3 RBI in the game including a 2-run homer and a double.

- The Phillies bullpen which has been through the ringer this year, came through again this post-season with 4 2/3 innings of 1-run ball.Chad Durbin was spectacular!Chan Ho Park had 1 good inning but got into trouble in the next inning; Ryan Madson bailed him out.And Brad Lidge pitched the 9th; it was a non-save situation but he got the job done.

- With this win, the Phillies have scored 55 runs in 9 post-season games.Nice.

- Even better, the Phillies are now the first National League team ever to record 16 wins in 20 post-season games.The only AL team to do it is the Yankees and it is likely that the Phils will face the Yankees in the World Series; they are up 3 games to 1 over the Angels so far.

The not so great news from this clinching game was Cole Hamels, who still cannot seem to remember how to pitch.Hamels lasted only 4 1/3 innings, allowing 3 solo home runs to the Dodgers.Two of those homers came after Hamels had 2 strikes on the batter which is the really disturbing part.With 2 strikes, why is tossing cookies right down the middle of the plate?Hamels clearly cannot be counted on this year; it will be very interesting to see what Charlie Manuel does with the rotation for the World Series.

But I do not feel like thinking about that right now…it is time to celebrate!Put on your party hat and have a drink!The Phillies are going back to the World Series!!!

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